Brentford take on Swansea City in this year’s Championship Playoff Final at Wembley, as they head it off for a place in the top-flight of English football, the Premier League.
Both teams will walk out in front of 12,000 fans, increased from the previously allowed 10,000, in a match that could decide a lot more than just where the pair of clubs play in August.
Brentford will look to overcome their Playoff agony
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North London side Brentford find themselves in the playoff final for the second year in a row, having made it all the way last year only to concede two extra-time goals to Fulham, which saw them fall at the last hurdle.
In fact, Brentford have the worst playoff record in English football having failed to get promoted via the playoffs nine times. They will be hoping this tenth time serves them better.
The Bees beat out Bournemouth to get to the final, turning round a 1-0 deficit in a thrilling second-leg, which finished 3-1. They will need the same fighting spirit to overcome a structured Swansea side.
Brentford’s attacking players are key for them, they will need Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbuemo to be up for the game from the first minute and will need Marcus Forss, who scored the winning goal in the second leg, to be ready whether he’s on the bench or not.
Captain Pontus Janson must use his playoff experience, including from last year’s final, to guide this team into getting over its hump.
32 goals this season... but @ivantoney24's still hungry for more. 🐝 #EFL | #EFLPlayOffs | #StepUp pic.twitter.com/Qmwak3HnkD
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) May 26, 2021
Swansea must call on quality once again
Swansea City make their way back to the playoff final as they look to find a way back to the Premier League the same way they did in 2011.
The Swans beat out surprise package Barnsley to get to this year’s final, thanks to two bits of quality from Andre Ayew and Matt Grimes, and they’ll need that again to get past Brentford.
The South Wales side have a lot of former Premier League players in their ranks but will be without winger Wayne Routledge, who got injured in the semi-final and could have played his final game for them.
This could be a big loss for the Swans as he has dug this young side out of a few holes this campaign.
Swansea will look to Ayew to pull them forward throughout this game, as he will no doubt play up top with the always running Jamal Lowe.
Conor Hourihane will need to pull the strings alongside Grimes to protect the young back two of Marc Guehi and Joel Latibeaudiere, who have impressed but could struggle with Championship top scorer Toney.
Jamal Lowe 🤝 André Ayew.#EFL | #EFLPlayOffs | #StepUp | @SwansOfficial pic.twitter.com/8j5EV60aBW
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) May 27, 2021
Who’s going to win?
This has everything to be a tight game and despite Brentford having been at this stage a year ago, it just feels as though Swansea have the quality to keep them at bay and grab a clinical goal.
If Hourihane and Grimes can keep Toney quiet, just like they did against Barnsley, then I think the Bees will struggle to get going.
I’m going with Swansea to win this one and head back to the Premier League.